North America - Lili on the Loose

9 11, 2015

Travel Missteps: Grand Theft Uber

By Lili|November 9th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Florida, Miami, Miami Heat, North America, Uber, work trip|0 Comments

I did what I've never done before. Not plan. And apparently not planning for me is doomed to failure. I had 2 days off in Miami after a work trip. I really wanted to go out on a boat, visit sandbars, and snorkel. Unfortunately the only boating companies that did that either were booked...or didn't allow single tourists. (The 2nd time Viator has let me down in that regard.) So with my dreams dashed, I ended up not planning anything. This ended up being slightly in my favor, as the weekend before this trip, I decided to go shopping for

2 11, 2015

Museum Monday: Aquamarine Tiara

By Lili|November 2nd, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: aquamarine, Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, cartier, Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, diamonds, museum, North America, platinum, tiara, USA|0 Comments

The Denver Art Museum had an exhibit called Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century which I was lucky enough to see in its last few days. There were many beautiful tiaras at the Cartier exhibit. While I loved the early tiaras for their ornate garland style, this beautiful aquamarine is also timeless. The Hesketh Aquamarine Tiara Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

31 10, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Ravenclaw Robes

By Lili|October 31st, 2015|Categories: Geek, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2012, Book, clothes, cosplay, costume, Florida, Halloween, Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Islands of Adventure, Movie, North America, Orlando, Orlando Adventure 2012, Pottermore, Ravenclaw, Robes, Sorted, Sorting, ties, Time Turner, Universal Studios, USA, Wand, Witches, Wizarding World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wizards|0 Comments

A few years ago I fulfilled a childhood dream of going to Hogwarts. I had already learned from Pottermore that I was sorted into Ravenclaw. For years I had thought myself Gryffindor but realized my mistake and found my home in the Claws. So I dutifully got myself my House gear when I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here I am dressed in my Ravenclaw robes, sweater, and tie for Halloween 2012 I'm your typical Ravenclaw student, I love learning so much I have a Time Turner! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on

27 10, 2015

Local Character: Headless Horseman of Gunbarrel, Colorado

By Lili|October 27th, 2015|Categories: Events, Local, Travel|Tags: Boulder, Colorado, Gunbarrel, Halloween, Headless Horseman, North America|4 Comments

The elusive Headless Horseman of Gunbarrel / Boulder, Colorado 2011. A few years back I lived very close to my office. So close that I would go home at lunch to walk my dog. One Halloween day, I was driving back into work when I saw it! I had heard rumors of the elusive Headless Horseman of Gunbarrel / Boulder, Colorado but didn't believe the stories. But here he was! Trotting down Jay & 63rd street! I quickly spun a U-turn, and hopped out of my car. The Headless Horseman is a friendly type, and paused to let

26 10, 2015

Travel Missteps: Following the Fall Leaves on the Freedom Trail

By Lili|October 26th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2014, Boston, fall, ghost, ghost story, Halloween, haunted, Haunted in Boston, leaves, Massachusetts, North America, trolley, USA|0 Comments

One of the best sounds in life is that crisp crunch sound when stepping on fall leaves. At my old condo, the wind would blow all the leaves in this grassy ditch behind the parking lot. The pile would get huge, up to my waist. My dog would join me as I jumped and kicked up the leaves. Then again, my dog’s main goal was to eat as many fall leaves as she cool, like they were potato chips. I still miss that home just for those fall leaves. So when I had just a single brief afternoon in Boston

13 10, 2015

Local Experience: Zombie Paintball at Anderson Farms

By Lili|October 13th, 2015|Categories: Activities, Local, Travel|Tags: Anderson Farms, Colorado, Corn Maze, Erie, fall, Fall Festival, Farm, Ghost Town, Halloween, haunted, hayride, North America, October, Paintball, Terror in the Corn, Zombies|0 Comments

The iconic Pumpkin on top of the grain tower. I love Halloween and so October is a busy month for me. I often get Meetup.com groups to go to local Halloween activities, and one of my favorites is Zombie Paintball at Anderson Farms. Cinderella's Pumpkin? During the day, Anderson Farms is family fun during their Fall Festival. You can join a hayride to the Pumpkin Patch to pickup the perfect pumpkin. You can wander through the 30 acre corn maze. For children there are a variety of small rides like the mine cars or barrel train.

5 10, 2015

Museum Monday: Poison in Detail

By Lili|October 5th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, Fantasy, museum, North America, Photo Essay, Poison, The Power of Poison, USA|0 Comments

As I wrote before in my review, I loved The Power of Poison exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Here are some of the exhibits models and artifacts in more detail. A blow dart gun, and the pot to brew & dip the tips in poison. There is something so intriguing on massive ancient tomes. I really enjoyed the faux magnification of various plants and animals in the forest area. It was very eye catching. An actual "Mad" Hatter's mercury laced hat. So many Beautiful, but Toxic Butterflies! Snow White's area was beautifully decorated and felt like

3 10, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Tasty Memory

By Lili|October 3rd, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2011, Apple, Candied Apple, Candy Apple, Caramel Apple, Carmel Apple, Girl’s Weekend, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, Sugar Factory, USA|0 Comments

During a Girl's Weekend in Las Vegas, I stopped into Sugar Factory and fell in love with their myriad of candy and caramel apple options. It took forever to decide on which one to get. It being a quick trip, I completely forgot to eat it until I got home. And it was delicious. Sadly, Sugar Factory closed their location in Las Vegas but they often have small kiosks at various locations and airports, so if you see be sure to check it out! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

15 09, 2015

Local Treats: The Cookie Lady

By Lili|September 15th, 2015|Categories: Food, Food & Drink, Local, Travel|Tags: 16th Street Mall, Carrot Cake, Colorado, Cookie Lady, cookies, Cupcakes, Denver, Downtown, Local, North America, Santa Fe Cookie Company|0 Comments

The Cookie Lady has a wide Variety of cookies, listed out in cute place-cards in front of the baskets. I had heard rumors since I started working in Downtown Denver, of the infamous "Cookie Lady". Without much to go on, my mind ran rampant and likened her to the "Soup Nazi" of Seinfeld fame. So one day, when I smelled the most delicious fresh-baked-goods scent wafting through the air, I followed it down to the Santa Fe Cookie Company. But alas, that first visit was for nought. She was out of cookies! I nervously waited around, watching the

10 09, 2015

TSA Chemical Swab Test False Positive

By Lili|September 10th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: chemical swab, Chemical Swab Test, Colorado, Denver, EDS, ETD, Explosive Detection System, Explosive Trace Detection, false positive, glycerin, Glycerine, Homeland Security, Nitrates, North America, pat down, Secondary Security Screening Selectee, Secondary Security Screening Selection, security, SSSS, Travel Thursday, TSA|0 Comments

I've written before of how I'm on the "random" SSSS list and so get extra security every time I fly. What I forgot to bring up in that discussion was how once I accidentally set off TSA's Chemical Swab Test using Explosive Trace Detection (or Explosive Detection System aka EDS) to find explosive residue on your person or belongings. It was like any other travel day for me. I was getting my usual extra "random" security, and automatically presented my hands to be tested with their chemical swab. But this time it beeped, and the female TSA agent checked the machine. "Sorry,